Friday, May 04, 2007

The Bush administration has been more than happy to arbitrarily take away our liberties, eviscerating even habeas corpus. But they still pay homage to the gun lobby.

If you are on a government list of terrorists or potential terrorists, for instance, you will find it very difficult to fly. But if you want to buy a gun, being on that list doesn't disqualify you.

Quoting from the link below:

"

Under the federal Brady Act, a licensed firearms dealer must request a background check through the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) before an unlicensed individual may purchase a weapon. However, even if a NICS check reveals that the prospective purchaser is a known or suspected terrorist, nothing in current law prevents that person from purchasing a gun unless he or she meets one of the other disqualifying factors, including felony or domestic abuse convictions.

In January 2005, the GAO produced a report to Sens. Lautenberg and Biden (D-DE) that found that from February 3 to June 30, 2004, a total of 44 firearm purchase attempts were made by individuals designated as known or suspected terrorists by the federal government. In 35 cases, the FBI authorized the transactions to proceed because FBI field agents were unable to find any disqualifying information (such as felony convictions or illegal immigrant status) within the federally prescribed three business days. (emphasis added) "

Well, Senator Lautenberg has introduced a bill, titled "Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2007". that would close this loophole, and it puts into collision the Administration's desire for executive power and its genuflections to the gun lobby.